Former Oakland Raiders coach John Madden remembered legendary Hall of Famer George Blanda, who died Tuesday at the age of 83, on his Sirius NFL Radio show and one of his best stories came from a game against the Browns.

“We’re playing Cleveland, and we’re behind and on the goal line,'' Madden said on his show ''Madden Football.'' ''He comes over, we take a timeout, and I’m going through [play calls], ‘Let’s do this. Let’s go far right 16. No, no, no, I don’t want to do that. Let’s go far left 7. No no, let’s go near left 65…’

University of Akron soccer coach Caleb Porter admitted his top-ranked Zips were not at their best Wednesday night as No. 19 Ohio State rallied for a 2-2 tie in front of a record crowd of 7,255 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

The Zips (6-0-1) saw their NCAA record-tying streak of 11 consecutive games without allowing a goal snapped. That string, which matched Furman (2002) and Virginia (2009), began on Nov. 15, 2009.

On all three of his touchdown receptions Sunday against the Browns, including his 600th career catch, Ravens receiver Anquan Boldin handed the ball to a fan.

''I think giving them something like a football is something they'll remember for the rest of their lives,'' Boldin said. ''I'm not a big memorabilia guy. I don't have jerseys and balls everywhere. I don't have a problem giving them away.''

I sat down with Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro for a 45-minute interview last Monday morning at his office at Progressive Field. I took that to write a column that appeared on Ohio.com and in the Akron Beacon Journal today. Here is the full interview.

Q: What kind of president do you think you will be? A Hank Peters kind of guy who makes all the big decisions? Or a president who stays out of GM Chris Antonetti’s way?

Akron Beacon Journal sports columnist Marla Ridenour interviewed Linda Carson, wife of former Browns head coach Bud Carson, in Bud's office at their home in Sarasota, Fla. recently. Carson coached the Browns from 1989-90 until he was fired by Art Modell. Carson died in 2005 but his office remains virtually unchanged. Read the story here.

It's a question that dates back longer than this Browns season. But two games and two losses in, little seems changed with the Browns' offense. Only receiver/returner Joshua Cribbs seems to be able to give the team a spark.

No one in the locker room was willing to go that far. But considering the brutal stretch of games the Browns face in the next eight weeks, Sunday's home opener against the Kansas City Chiefs is a must-win, at least for coach Eric Mangini.

After the Chiefs (1-0), the Browns take on Baltimore, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, New England and the New York Jets. The Ravens, Steelers and Saints games are on the road. All but Atlanta and Pittsburgh made the playoffs last season and those two missed with 9-7 records. The Saints won the Super Bowl.

Just when I thought it was safe to go back in the locker room, another alleged incident of sexual harassment of a female reporter reminds me just how far we haven't come.

Actually, I haven't decided what troubles me more -- the way the New York Jets allegedly treated Ines Sainz of TV Azteca on Saturday while she waited to interview quarterback Mark Sanchez or the totally inappropriate remarks of Clinton Portis on the subject Tuesday morning.

Before kickoff of the Browns-Bucs game Sunday in Tampa, optimists thought the Browns had a chance to build on their four-game winning streak that ended the 2009 season with a 2-0 start against the Bucs and Kansas City Chiefs.

One of the most mystifying aspects of Sunday's 17-14 loss at Tampa Bay was the Browns' continued reluctance to rely on Jerome Harrison as their featured running back.

Even though Harrison was listed as the starter of the official post-game statistics, the Browns did not open in their base offense and Peyton Hillis was called on first, with quarterback Jake Delhomme throwing to him on first down and Hillis carrying for no gain on second down.

With LeBron James considering attending Saturday's Ohio State-Miami football game in Columbus, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel and junior quarterback Terrelle Pryor tried to calm the masses still seething over the Cavalier star's departure to the Miami Heat.

When word got out that James might be on the Buckeyes' sideline, angry fans responded on the Internet. Even some of the milder responses suggested Pryor should reconsider his choice of mentors. Others wondered whether James being on the sideline would be an NCAA violation since he owns a sports marketing/management company.

Musings on the weekend's activities, including the Browns' final cuts.

It's somewhat surprising that general manager Tom Heckert said the Browns had no interest in receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh after he was released by Seattle, only to see him snapped up by the Baltimore Ravens.

There was much to like in No. 2 Ohio State's 45-7 rout of Marshall Thursday night.

Brandon Saine averaged 11.4 yards per carry, zipping for 103 yards on nine attempts and touchdowns of 4 and 45 yards. It was the third career 100-yard game for senior co-captain Saine and only the second time he has scored twice in one game.

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor's post-game remarks after a 45-7 victory over Marshall Thursday night. Pryor completed 17 of 25 for 247 yards and three touchdowns before being lifted with 10:42 remaining.

What did this game mean: ''We made a lot of big plays, got the crowd going. We had a lot of fun.''

Michigan director of athletics Dave Brandon admitted Wednesday night on the Big Ten Network that he was concerned that the Ohio State-Michigan game would be moved from the final game of the regular season starting in 2011.

Recovery from leg surgery could still keep Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers from playing in the Sept. 12 opener at Tampa Bay. But the team may be relieved that one -- and likely two -- of its top defensive linemen will not be suspended by the NFL after being arrested with handguns at airports.

The league announced Tuesday that Rogers would forfeit one game check for his April 1 arrest at Cleveland Hopkins airport, which he is appealing. Rogers has been placed in a diversion program, which includes community service and a gun class, and can have the felony charge dismissed upon completion.